New York City is the land of endless nooks and crannies. There are thousands of things to do, places to go– you just have to find them. Today we’re giving you a little shortcut to MÔTÔ Spirits, a micro-distillery nestled in Bushwick, run by Marie Estrada and Hagai Yardeny, neighbors-turned-business partners.
Exposed pipes, wood floors, cement walls with parked motorcycles bordering the room– the industrial space is urban and warm, a neighborhood spot. It may be small (roughly 500 sq ft), but its influence is global. Hagai has been taking motorcycling trips around the world for years. One of those trips landed him in Vietnam, where he was met with sincere hospitality from locals, and treated to a spirit he’d never had much of, one distilled from rice. When he came back to Brooklyn, he couldn’t find the stuff. So, he began making it on his own– first in his apartment, then eventually renting out a bathroom on the floor above his own place, ripping out the toilet and creating a space to experiment. Soon Marie had joined, then came befriending distillers around town, and eventually, a modest commercial space and a proper business. “Taking my mad scientist approach and putting a process behind it, making it consistent,” Hagai said.
Around 2018, Marie got a tip about a kind of live music pop-up called Sofar. The idea was immediately intriguing. “Both Hagai and I love music, and we’re always so busy,” Marie said. “What’s so great is bringing the music to us, that’s how we transitioned into it.” They began hosting Sofars, and the fit was immediately right.
Marie Estrada and Hagai Yardeny, neighbors-turned-business partners. Photo by Milica Cardona
“The whole inspiration for the distillery was the hospitality we got while traveling,” Hagai said. “Hosting people, sharing our spirit, and providing an intimate space for musicians just seemed like a natural fit. I think we both appreciated what Sofar provides not only to the audience, but the musicians. We have friends who’re musicians, and without Sofar, it’s kind of really hard for them to find a home to share their work.”
Not only do artists get a chance to meet new listeners, but MÔTÔ Spirits gets the opportunity to meet more of their community. “No one knows who we are, so being able to get 100 people into our space on a Friday night– we were making partnerships that would allow a community to be aware of who we were,” Marie said.
The distillery is expanding into a slightly larger space, but the intimate, community driven feel and experience won’t change, whether you’re just stopping by for a quick drink, or coming in for a night of music. “It’s an intimate space, a new discovery in the neighborhood, and the ability to enjoy not only awesome music, but hopefully awesome spirits as well,” Hagai said.
Interested in hosting a Sofar? Check out more details here.
